Well-boring apparatus.



C. E. WILCOX.

WELL BORING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-Ix I9I3.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

,. Mainly I-IIS ATTIIRNEIY WITNESSES WM 7J. AMM.

CHARLES El WILCOX, 0F EAST BAKERSFIELI), CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECTAND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO I-IIMSELF, AND ONE-THIRD TOWILLIAM G. KNAPP, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA, ANI) ONE-THIRD TG OIL V7 ELLSUPPLY COM- PANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

WELL-BORING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Application 1ed August 1, 1913. Serial No. 782,492.

T 0 all fwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. WiLooX, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in I/Vell-BoringApparatus, of which the following -is a specifiiication.

The invention disclosed herein was divided, and a divisionalapplication, Serial No. L16,191, was filed by me on August 18, 1915.

This invention relates to well boring apparatus and more particularly torotary well boring apparatus, in which the boring string carrying theboring tool or device is rotated in the well hole in producing the wellhole, by suitable means located at the mouth of the hole.

The invention relates more specifically to the swivels and means ofsuspension of same, whereby the boring string is suspended in the wellhole, by suitable means eX-` tending therefrom to the derrick or rig.

The invention has for its object to provide improvements in well boringapparatus of the character stated in which the swivel and suspensionmeans are so organized that the suspension means may be utilized forlhandling the joints or sections o f the boring string and the casingwhen the swivel features per se are not in use.

In practising the invention, the swivel is applied to the boring stringat the top of the same and it coperates with the collar at the top ofthe string in holding up the string.

Ordinarily swivels of rotary well boring apparatus are provided withswivel stems which are concealed within the string, eX- tending downwardto and being jointed to the string beneath the swivel.

In accordance with the invention the swivel is applied directly to thetop joint of the string and beneath the collar at the top of said topjoint. The improved swivel and suspension means are so jointly organizedthat the features which pertain strictly to the performance of swivelfunctions may be removed from the suspension means features, enablingthe suspension .Ineal 99 lo? used as an elevator in holding up andhandling the joints of the strings and casings.

To more perfectly adapt the suspension means for its performance as suchan elevator, certain elevator parts are applied to the suspension meansin substitution for the parts and features which are applied to thesuspension means to complete the swivel. Thus the suspension means maybe converted from a swivel into an elevator and from elevator to swivel,thus to adapt it for the particular class of use and service demanded ofit in carrying on the boring operations lnl 'in the general developmentof the well The invention has for further objects the provision ofimproved well boring apparatus of the general character stated whichwill be of relative superiority and inexpensive of constructionoriginally, combined with positiveness in operation, convenience inhandling and control and durability and the use of which will beattended by an appreciable saving of time and a general increase ofefliciency and serviceability.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of thenovel and use- 'ful provision, construction, inter-relation,

ing A therein designates generally the suspension means organized foruse as a swivel in connection with the boring string of which the upperjoint or section is shown in the drawing. C denotes generally thesuspensionmeans organized as an elevator for handling the casing D orthe string B the upper joint or section of the casing being shown -inthe drawing. The suspension means is provided with the usual bail Ewhich is in turn suspended in the rig or derrick in the usual manner.Circulation means F are applied to the boring string B at the top of thesame.

The suspension means A comprises in the main an annular frame or ring 7,with which the bail E is pivotally connected, at diametrically oppositepoints as at 8. The annulus 7 is thickened at its lower portion toproduce an annular inner shoulderv 8a. The swivel members or featuresare applied to the shoulder 821 of the annulus 7 and -to an annular plug9, screwed into the lower portion ofthe annui/us 7, as at 10, flush'with the shoulder 8a. The annulus 7 'has an inner diameter large enoughto pass the collars ofany joints or sections of the boring string orcasing with which the sus-pension means is to be used. Resting upon theplug 9 and shoulder Sa is an `annular ball race carrier 11, havingspaced upstanding annular side walls l2 and 13 between which are iittetlupper and lower annular vball race plates 14 and 15 respectively. Aseries of bali ibearings'lb is accommodated between the baill'raeeswhich are grooved or channeiledV to receive ,the same. The ball raceplate 14 fits into a shallow groove, as at 17, in an annular cap orcrown ring 18 which isprovided with a depending annularinternalextension 19 spaced from .the ball race carrier inner wall 12.and inward of same.

Iannular pack-ing ring 2O is disposed between the top of the wall 12 anda channel inthe crown ring 18. A series of hooks 21 extend from top ofthe carrier wall 13 into an annular channel 22 in the periphery of thecrown ring 13 beneath yan overhanging annular' ledge 22a which foverliesIthe top of the -annulus 7. Coperating with the crown ring E1S, andfitting between the same and the annular inner extension 19 of the sameand the boring-string B, is a split bushing 23 which is provided with anoutwardly 4eX- tended top fla-nge 24 which is yengaged with and beneaththe collar 25 at the top of the bonin-g string and whereby the "boringstring is connected with the `fluid circulating means F. Mitfh the partsinter-related as just ydescribed the weight of the boring string isimpartedsto the suspension means A through the :annu'lus 7 and. itsshoulder 3'L and the annular plug 9.v When rotation is imparted to thestring B, by the usual rotary tab'le or any suitabfle means the crown'ring 18 and ball race plate 14'rotate with the string, and

with'relation tothe ball-race plate 15 andthe bal'lvrace carrier 11.l/Vhen, now, it is desired to use 1n one :manner 'the suspension means.for the :purpose Vfor which the usual elevator Ais yemployed theboring'string may `be held up -by slips Vor' otherwise, and thesuspensifcn aneans and the elevator features c lowered until the splitbushing 23 is free to be removed from its working position,

when the suspension means may be lowered beneath the next lower collarand the split bushing again be put into place, and the suspension meanselevated, thus further elevating the boring string. This operation maybeperformed in breaking lup the boring string and the reverse ofy thisoperation may be performed in making up the boring string.

The annulus or body 7 of the ,suspension means is made large enough soit may be utilizedas part of an elevator for casing of maximum diameterand the swivel features a and the elevator features 0 are of suchdimensions under any certain conditions, as to bridge the space betweenthe boringst-ring or casing and the body. The liquidcirculation means Fcomprises atubular body 31 -which screws into the ltop collar '-25 uponthe'boring string, and-within which is fit/ted an upper packing ring 32anda lower packing ring 33 separated by a compression spring 34 forcingthe lower packing ring 33 against a seat 35 at the lower end of the body31, and forcing the upper packing Lring against the gland 36, which withits ihead 37, is split vertically and transversely the two parts thereofbeing bolted 4together as at 38, and the head thereof being bolted tothe body 31, as at 39, to bring the gland down against 4upper packingring 32. The wash pipe or feed pipe of the circular means F is-rotatably received within t/he body 31 and the packing rings 32 and 33,which are dis-posed between such body and-such pipe, the lower end ofthe pipe extending beneath body 31, to discharge fluid-into Lthe topsection of 'the boring string. An integral flange 42, upon the pipe 40within the gland head 37, is disposedA between twofbearing rings 43 and44, accommodated within the gland head 37, thus constituting the thrustbearings preventing vertical displacement of interpreted as tol-imit itto any particular and specific-features and details of construc-y tionand combination and inter-relation herein specified and expressedfurther than is required by ya fair interpretation of the followingclaims; -as'many wide variations may be lmade in these respects 'inperfecting the invention. Y

{Elavinglthus described. my invention'. 1 claim and .desire yto secure'fb-y Letters Patent:

1. In appara-tus'ofthe.character disclosed,

suspension means, comprising a frame and a suspending device therefor,and swivel means applied to the frame and comprising a ball racecarrier, ball race plates and balls in the carrier, and a crown memberfitting over the ball race plates; there being means of connectionbetween the crown member and the ball race carrier whereby they may bejointly removed from the frame.

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination with a boringstring; suspension means for the string, and swivel means coperatingwith the suspension means and with the string at the top thereof tosupport the string; a split bushing being provided between the swivelmeans and the string.

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, suspension means, comprisinga frame and a suspending device therefor, and swivel means detachablyapplied to the frame and adapted to coperate with a boring string torotatably suspend the same; a split bushing being provided for insertionbetween the swivel means and the string.

4t. In apparatus of the character disclosed, suspension means,comprising a frame and a suspending device therefor; and swivel meanscomprising two relatively rotatable members applicable respectively tosaid frame and to a boring string; said frame being annular and havingan inwardly projecting shoulder upon which said swivel means rests, anda plug screwed into said frame flush with said-shoulder.

5. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination with aboring string having an external thread formed on the upper end thereof,a standard pipe collar secured on said thread and having its upper endinteriorly threaded to receive an additional joint of the boring string,a support, and swivel means carried by the support, said swivel meansresting against and supporting said collar.

6. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination with aboring string Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,by addressing the having an external thread formed on the upper endthereof, a standard pipe collar secured on said thread and having it-supper end interiorly threaded to receive an additional joint of theboring string, a support, swivel means carried by said support having anopening therein through which said collar can pass, and means by whichsaid collar may be supported on said swivel means.

7 In an apparatus of the character disclosed, in combinat-ion with aboring string having an external thread formed on the upper end thereof,a standard pipe collar secured on said thread and having its upper endinteriorly threaded to receive an additional joint of the boring string,a support, swivel means carried by said support having an openingtherein through which said collar can pass, and a split bushing adaptedto be slipped in said opening in said swivel means, said split bushingbeing so shaped that it is supported by said swivel means.

S. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination with aboring string having a collar thereon, a support, swivel means carriedby said support and having an opening therein through which said collarmay pass, and means for supporting said collar on said swivel means.

9. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination with aboring string having a collar thereon, a support, swivel means carriedby said support and having an opening therein through which said collarmay pass, and a split bushing adapted to be placed in said opening aboutsaid boring string, said split bushing being so placed that it issupported by said swivel means and supports said collar.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

V. J. COBB, R. I. BLAKESLEE.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

